CE470 Lecture 15: Welds

Introduction
Types of Welds
Weld Processes
Weld Symbols
Groove Welds
 Strength
 Example
 Structural Welding

• Common method for connecting structural steel

• Many fabrication shops prefer to weld rather than bolt
• Welding in the field is avoided if possible due to welding
condition requirements
• There are several welding processes, types, and positions
to be considered in building construction 2
 Structural Welding

• Welding is the process of fusing multiple pieces of metal

together by heating the filler metal to a liquid state
• A properly welded joint is stronger than the base metal
3
 Strength of Structural Welds

(Part of Table J2.5 AISC 2005)

• Welds may be loaded in shear, tension, compression, or a

combination of these
• Capacities for welds given in AISC Section J2 (2005)
• The strength of a weld is dependent on factors including:
base metal, filler metal, type of weld, throat and weld size
4
 Welding Terminology

Butt
Lap Corner

Edge
Tee

• Shown above are types of structural joints which are

established by positions of the connected material relative
to one another
• Lap, tee, and butt joints are most common 5
 AISC J2.1, J2.2, J2.3
Common Types of Welds
Fillet Welds

Groove Welds

Plug and Slot

Welds
 AISC J2.1, J2.2, J2.3
Common Types of Welds
Fillet Welds

• The most commonly used

weld is the fillet weld
• Fillet welds are theoretically
Symbolic Profiles triangular in cross-section
• Fillet welds join two surfaces
at approximately right angles
Actual Profiles
to each other in lap, tee, and
corner joints
 AISC J2.1, J2.2, J2.3
Common Types of Welds
Groove Welds

Partial joint
penetration welds are
used when it is not
necessary for the
Full Partial strength of the joint
penetration penetration to develop the full
single bevel single bevel cross section of the
groove weld groove weld members being joined
 Groove Welds

• Groove welds are specified when a fillet weld is not

appropriate for the job
 Configuration of the pieces may not permit fillet welding

 Strength greater than that provided by a fillet weld is

required 9
 AISC J2.1, J2.2, J2.3
Common Types of Welds
Plug and Slot Welds
 Least common
 Might be used when
weld in interior of
plate necessary
(e.g. doubler plates)

trades.autrytech.com
 Welding Positions

• There are four recognized welding positions:

 Flat – The face of the weld is approximately horizontal
and welding is performed from above the joint
 Horizontal – The axis of the weld is horizontal

 Vertical – The axis is approximately vertical or in the

upright position
 Overhead – Welding is performed from below the joint

• The flat position is preferred because it is easier and more

efficient to weld in this position 11
 Weld Size

• Some welds may meet the required size after a single pass
of the welder
• Larger weld sizes may require multiple passes to meet the
size requirement
• Common single pass welds include fillet welds up to and
including 5/16 inch
• The weld in the above picture is a multiple pass fillet weld
12
 Weld Accessibility
• Access holes are required for
some welds, such as the welded Extension
flange connection shown to the Bar
right
 The top access hole allows
for a continuous backing Backing
bar to be placed under the
top flange
Bar

Column
 The bottom access hole Weld
allows for complete access
to weld the entire width of Access
the bottom flange Holes
• A detail of a weld access hole
for a welded flange connection
is shown below

Seat
Angle
13
Welding Processes
Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW)
Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)
Submerged Arc Welding (SAW)
 SMAW Welding

• Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) is also known as

manual, stick, or hand welding
• An electric arc is produced between the end of a coated
metal electrode and the steel components to be welded
• The electrode is a filler metal covered with a coating
15
 SMAW

• The electrode‟s coating has two purposes:

• It forms a gas shield to prevent impurities in the
atmosphere from getting into the weld
• It contains a flux that purifies the molten metal
 GMAW Welding

• Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) is also known as MIG

welding
• It is fast and economical
• A continuous wire is fed into the welding gun
18
GMAW

• The wire melts and combines with the base metal to form
the weld
• The molten metal is protected from the atmosphere by a
gas shield which is fed through a conduit to the tip of the
welding gun
• This process may be automated
 FCAW Welding

• Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) is similar to GMAW, but the

filler wire has a center core which contains flux
• With this process it is possible to weld with or without a
shielding gas (This makes it useful for exposed conditions
where a shielding gas may be affected by the wind)
21
 SAW Welding

• Submerged Arc Welding (SAW) is only performed by

automatic or semiautomatic methods
• Uses a continuously fed filler metal electrode
• Weld pool is protected from the surrounding atmosphere by
a blanket of granular flux fed at the welding gun
22
 • Results in a deeper weld penetration than the
other process
SAW
• Only flat or horizontal positions may be used

http://www.weldprocedures.com/fig10-60.jpg
SAW
www.gayconstructions.com
 Welding Equipment

• Equipment used for welding will vary depending on the

welding process and whether the welding is being done in
the shop or in the field
• (Left) FCAW machine for shop welding
• (Right) SMAW machine for field welding
25
 Weather Impacts on Welding

• Welding in the field is avoided if possible due to welding

condition requirements
• Field welding is not to be performed while it is raining,
snowing, or below 0° F
• In certain ambient temperatures preheating of the material
to be welded is required
• AWS Code D1.1 specifies minimum preheat and interpass
temperatures, which are designed to prevent cracking 26
 Welding Cost Considerations

• Fillet weld is less expensive than groove weld

 No special preparation

 No backing required

 Less volume of weld

• Partial penetration groove weld is less expensive

than full penetration groove weld
• Labor represents the majority of the cost
associated with welding 27
 Bolting and Welding
Scheduling Considerations

• Bolting is generally a faster operation than welding

• Bolting does not have the temperature and weather
condition requirements that are associated with welding
• Unexpected weather changes may delay welding operations
28
 Weld Symbols

• Weld symbols are used to communicate the specific details

and requirements of each weld to the welder
• Weld symbols are included on fabrication and erection
drawings
29
 Weld Symbols
Horizontal Weld
Line
Note
Field Weld Tail (Indicating
Symbol this is a
Leader typical weld)
Line
Length and Spacing
of weld
(in inches)
Size of weld
(in inches)
Basic Weld Symbol
(Fillet weld symbol
shown)

30
 AISC Table 8-2
Welding Symbols

3/8” 5”

Weld Symbol
Below line indicates weld on
“arrow side”
Above line indicates weld on
opposite side
 AISC J2.1a
Groove Welds – Geometry
Complete-joint-penetration (CJP)

effective throat, te = „a‟ dimension shown

Partial-joint-penetration (PJP)
See Table J2.1 – depends on depth of
chamfer, angle, etc.
 AISC J2.4
Groove Welds – Strength
Base Metal
Rnw  FBMABM
Cross-sectional
Depends on Nominal area (in2) of
limit state strength (ksi) welded part

Weld
Rnw  FWAW
Effective area (in2)
Nominal of weld
strength (ksi)
 AISC J2.6 User Note p. 16.1-102
Matching Weld Metal

Match Base Metal (BM) and Weld Metal (W)

For example:
A36 (3/4” thick or less) 60 ksi & 70 ksi
electrodes
A572 Gr. 50 70 ksi
A992 70 ksi
A913 Gr. 65 80 ksi
 AISC Table J2.5

CJP Groove Welds – Strength

AISC Table J2.5 – strength is controlled
by base metal (with matching filler
lw metal)…

Rnw  FBMABM
te

Rnw  Fytelw
PL 1 x 6
A36
Rnw  0.9(36ksi )(1" )(6" )  194 kips
AISC Table J2.5
 AISC Table 8-2 Prequalified Welded Joints
CJP Groove Welds – Example
Root opening
0
½” CJP
BACKGOUGE
½” E70xx
45°

Bevel angle
PL 1 x 6
A36
Note: choice of configuration may depend on access, forces,
residual stress, distortion, etc. (AISC p. 8-29)